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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Milwaukee, WI vs Bakersfield, CA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Milwaukee spends 67.7% more per capita than Bakersfield ($7,841/person difference). Milwaukee, WI has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 62/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Milwaukee, WI
Pop. 573,299
C
62/100
Budget Balance32
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency91
Revenue Diversity1
Trend Direction50
City B
Bakersfield, CA
Pop. 404,321
C
56/100
Budget Balance2
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency100
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Milwaukee
Bakersfield
Total Spending
$11.1B
$4.7B
Spending / Capita
$19,417
$11,576
Total Revenue
$6.3B
$1.6B
Revenue / Capita
$11,027
$3,862
Total Debt
$0
$0
Debt / Capita
$0
$0
Population
573,299
404,321
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Milwaukee$3,642
Bakersfield$0
Fire Protection
Milwaukee$802
Bakersfield$0
Highways & Roads
Milwaukee$23
Bakersfield$0
Parks & Recreation
Milwaukee$2,206
Bakersfield$741
Health
Milwaukee$1
Bakersfield$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

MilwaukeeBakersfield
Property Tax
$0
$1
Sales Tax
$6,548
$20
Income Tax
$1
$1,909
Intergovernmental
$1,231
$3,862
Charges & Fees
$0
$1,024
Other
$3,984
$1,915

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

MilwaukeeBakersfield
Police
$3,642
$0
Fire Protection
$802
$0
Highways & Roads
$23
$0
Public Welfare
$180
$840
Health
$1
$0
Hospitals
$0
$425
Parks & Recreation
$2,206
$741
Housing
$1,071
$3,391
Sewerage
$0
$265
Utilities
$1,866
$2,679
Interest on Debt
$1,608
$0
Other
$8,018
$3,234
C
Milwaukee, WI
Fiscal Health Score: 62/100
Average fiscal health
C
Bakersfield, CA
Fiscal Health Score: 56/100
Average fiscal health

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